Well system



H. A. TUBBS WELL SYSTEM Nov. 20, 1962 Filed Oct. lO, 1960 r9 TTWPME Yiinited States 3,064,736 WELL SYSTEM Howard A. Tubbs, 406 S. ElizabethSt., Whitewater, Wis. Filed Get. 1li, 1960, Ser. No. 61,663 11 Claims.(Cl. 166-67) The invention relates to a well system of the type normallyused in supplying water in rural areas for domestic or commercialpurposes.

In particular, the invention relates to the type of Well system in whicha submersible type pump is located within the well casing, such pumptogether with its motor being suspended from the drop pipe whichdelivers the water to the storage tank. Y

The principal object is to provide an above ground well head dischargeunit for use in a well system.

A specific object is to provide in a well system, a' well head dischargeunit which may' be readily assembled during the initial installation ofthe well system and which may be readily disassembled for servicingpurposes.

Another object is to provide in a well system of the type employed,means for effecting balancing of the water level in the system.

Another object is to provide a well system having an above ground waterdischarge while providing a means for preventing freezing duringextremely cold weather.

A further object is to provide a generally improved well system whereinthe water discharge level is situated above the normal ground level.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theensuing specification and drawing in which: f

FlG. l is an elevational view, shown partly fragmentarily, of the entirewell system. Y v' FlG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of thedistributor head.

FlG, 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FiG. l. A

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the drop pipe assembly andpertinent valves.

in general, the well system includes thewell casing A, which in practicewould be made up of sections of pipe secured together to form acontinuous pipe extending down into the ground to a depth sufficient toencounter the source of water. The well casing normally has a commoninside diameter throughout its length to accommodate the pump and motorunit B which is submerged at all times below water level within thecasing. The pump and motor unit is suspended from the drop pipe C which,of course, is formed of sections connected together so as to extendthroughout the length of the well casing continuously. The upper end ofthe drop pipe is connected to the water distributor D from whence thewater enters the storage tank E and is dispensed into the house or otherplace of usage through the discharge pipe F (only a portion of which isshown). Suitable electric wiring G leads from the source of electricity(not shown) into the interior of the well casing, down through thedistributor head and on down through the well casing to the pump andmotor unit.

in a well system of this type, it is conventional practice to supply apressure switch (not shown) which is responsive to the air pressurewithin the storage tank for automatically controlling the operation ofthe pump and motor unit.

The distributor D may include a single casting, gengenerally in the formof a spool, having axially spaced lands 16 and 11 with annular grooves10a and 11a for receiving the O-ring type seals 12 and 13 thus closingoli the annular water chamber 14 which communicates 3,?0643356 PatentedNov. 20, 1962 lee with the water transfer pipe 15 through the opening 16in the casing adapter section 17. The Water thus travels up through thedrop pipe C from the uppermost section 1S thereof into the diametricslot 19 which opens into the annular chamber 14 from whence the water isdischarged through opening 16 into the interior of the nipple 15a andthence through the transfer pipe 15 into the storage tank E. Thedistributor casting may have a passage 2t) opening through the oppositeends thereof through which the conductor wires G pass.

It is necessary to admit air into the interior of the storage tank asneeded to provide a suitable air cushion above the water level in saidtank for pressurizing the system and this air is introduced into thetank through appropriate bleeders 21 and 22 in a manner to be explainedhereinafter. Excess air within the tank is discharged to atmospherethrough the discharge pipe 23 in accordance with water level within thetank. Whenever the water level reaches a predetermined height within thetank, the oat 24 moves vertically upwardly following the water level andopens an air control valve 25 allowing air in vthe storage tank toescape through the pipe Z3 to atmosphere, through the interior of plug27 and out through ground type, that is, buried in the ground withadequate space from the well casing A. It will be understood that thestorage tank could be located within the basement or other location ofthe home or other building employing the well system. The stand pipe 29which houses the air release pipe 23 may be threaded into the boss 30formed at the upper end of the storage tank and an air cushion is thusformed within the stand pipe between its internal wall and the externalwall of the air release pipe 23.

By using a stand pipe of fairly large diameter, the air escape pipe 23can be threaded into the plug 27 which in turn is threaded into thestand pipe. The tapered pipe threads provide a very suitable seal forpreventing loss of air from the storage tank whereby water loggingwithin the tank is effectively controlled and the water level within thetank is kept well below frost level to prevent freezing. The stand pipe29 also permits removal of the float valve assembly for servicing.

The water transfer pipe 15 may be provided with a T 31 to permit the useof a removable plug 32. A suitable iitting 33 is welded at 34 within anopening 35 in the bottom wall of the lower half 36 ofthe closure shellwhich may be generally identified by the letter H. A T 37 receives oneend of a balancing pipe 3S, the other end of which is in communicationwith the interior of the stand pipe 29 for reasons to be explainedhereinafter.

The lower half 36 of the closure shell is of cylindrical cross-sectionand has radially inwardly turned annular ange 39 formed at its upper endand providing an annular shoulder 4@ against which the complementaryupper half 41 of the closure shell abuts. The upper half of the shell islikewise of cylindrical cross-section. Both the upper and lower halvesof the closure shell are lined interiorly with suitable blankets ofinsulation material 42 and 43 for assisting in preventing freezingduring cold weather. A device known commercially as a heating tape 44 iswrapped continuously around the casing section 17 and an electricalconductor 45 leads from the coiled heat tape through an automaticthermally responsive switch mechanism 46 and thence through the conduit47. The conduit 47 is of the underground type and serves to carry thehouses the cables G and 45.Y

Yrecede any further.

conductor wire li5 for the heat tape and also the electrical conductorcable G which leads to the pump motor unit B. A hollow coupling 4S iswelded at 49 within an opening in the bottom wall of the shell 36 andthe end of the conduit 47 is threaded into such coupling. The heat tape44 will be automatically energized by the closing of the switchmechanism 46 whenever the temperature within the interior of the shellclosure H drops to a level in which freezing of the water might be aptto occur. Thus I have made it possible t'o discharge the Water from thedrop pipe C into the annular chamber 14 above ground level and thentransfer such water through the transfer pipe 15 to the storage tank E-while providing a suitable means for preventing freezing of the waterduring extremely cold weather. t

As has been previously pointed out, it is necessary to admit airperiodically into the storage tank E and this is accomplished by iirstintroducing such atmospheric air to the interior of the well casing Afrom whence it is ultimately transferred through the drop pipe C,annular chamber 14 and transfer pipe 15.into the storage tank E duringeach period when thew pump is operating. l

While the shell enclosure H is suliiciently tight yto prevent entry offoreign materials (such as might be voccasioned by inclement weather),atmospheric air is always present within the closure shell-entry theretobeing possible at the joint where the upper and lower halves of theshell abut and also through the conduit 47 which also The atmosphericair within the shell enclosure gains entry to the interior of the wellcasing A through the passages and 20a in the distributor head D.

When the pump is operating, water is being delivered up through the droppipe and into the storage tank until the pressure switch opens theelectric circuit to the pump motor. Then when the pump ceases operating,a one way check valve 55 prevents the water in the storage tank fromrunning back down through the drop pipe, however, the receding of thewater within the drop pipe below the check valve causes a suctioncondition to tend to want to build up within the drop pipe wherein `thevalve ball 56 (see FIG. 4) within the bleeder 21 would tend to closeagainst its outer seat 51 and Vthus prevent admission of air into theinterior of drop pipe C, however, the second bleeder 22 allows escape ofthe receding water until the opening 52 is exposed to the atmosphericair which is present within the well casing A. Then the partial vacuumcondition within the drop pipe beneath check valve 55 causes a charge ofair to be drawn into the interior of the drop pipe. The water within thedrop pipe will recede to a level in the vicinity of the second bleeder,check valve 53 at the pump motor unit preventing the water level to Thecheck valve 53 may be of the same general construction as shown in FIG.4 with reference to valve `55 and the bleeder 22 may be of the samegeneral construction as bleeder 21. Thus, with a column of air suppliedwithin the drop pipe, when the pump next operates, a charge of air ispushed through the check valve 55 and on into the storage tank ahead ofthe column of water coming up through the drop pipe. As has beenpreviously explained, if too -much air is introduced into the storagetank, the excess will be expelled out through me tube 23 by operation ofthe air control 25. Y

The lower shell half 36 has a large opening 60 in the bottom Wall and ahollow stub in the form of a section of casing 61 is welded at 62 to theshell. The casing adapter section 17, which has the same inside andoutside diameter as the -well casing A, is welded to the upper end ofthe casing section 61, as indicated at 63. The inside diameterV of thecasing section 61 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of thewell casing A and when the lower shell half 36 is installed onto theupper end 65 of the well casing, the adapter casing section 17 rests onthe upper end of the Well casing and becomes automatically axiallyaligned with the well casing.

The distributor head D has radially outwardly projecting lugs 66 formedat the upper end thereof for resting on Vthe upper end 67 of the 'casingseetio'n 1'7. Thus the entire pump and motor unit, drop ,pipe C anddistributor head D are suspended within the well casing for subsequentremoval, if necessary, for servicing purposes. The distributor head isprovided with a threaded boss 68 for use in connecting to a suitablehoist during installation or removal of the drop pipe and pump motorunit as needed. The -boss 68 is internally threaded at 7G for receivingthe threaded end of eye -bolt 71 which is rotatably associated with theupper shell half 41. Rigid washers 72 and 73 are welded to the eye bolt71 dier said eye bolt has been inserted through the opening 54 andsuitable washers 74 and 75, formed of rubber or some similar material,are placed on the eye bolt 71 in the positions as indicated in FIG. 1prior to the welding, at 75 and 76 of the washers 72 and 73 lto the eyebolt. The rubber Washers are spaced from each other sogas to engage theshell wall between them rather snugly but such as to permit rotation ofthe 'eye bolt during assembly or disassembly of the upper shell halfrelative to the lower shell half. The rubber washers serve to prevententry of foreign materials into the shell closure. During assembly ofthe upper shell half to the lower shell half, the eye bolt is threadedinto the boss 68 and during disassembly, the eye bolt is rotated in thereverse direction and the axial thrust exerted against the boss 68 willcause the upper shell half to be raised upwardly relative to the lowershell half during the process of the reverse rotation of the eye bolt.In order to prevent rotation of the distributor head as a consequence ofrotation of the eye bolt, a plug 30 is threaded into the internallythreaded hollow fitting 81 until the inner end 82 of such plug entersthe diametric slot 19 thereby temporarily locking the distributor head Drelative to the casing section 17 (that is, locking same againstrotation relative to such casing section). The fitting 81 is permanentlyanchored in the opening 16a in the same manner that the hollow iitting16 is permanently anchored in opening 16h thereby establishing theannular chamber 14 so that it -is Water tight for preventing escape ofwater into the interior of the shell closure H. i When the upper shellhalf is tightened down against the lower shell half, as Vshown in FIG.l, then removal is prevented by means of a conventional padlock 83, theloop portion 84 of which passes through the eye 85 of the eye bolt and aleg 86 of .which passesthrough the eye 87 of a second eye bolt 88 whichmay be welded to the outer wall of the shell.

A fitting 89 is Vwelded into an opening in the bottom Wall of the lowershell half and a discharge pipe 90 extends down into the ground fordischarging any moisture that Vmight accumulate within the interior ofthe shell closure.

After the pump has delivered a supply of water into tank E and thenceases pumping, the pump pressure ceases and the water level within theentire system will tend to become common-that is, water seeks a commonlevel. The air pressure within the tank E is promptly transferredthrough lbalancing pipe 38 from the interior of standpipe 29 into theinterior of water transfer pipe 15 at the T 37. Thus the water withinpipe 15 will promptly drain into tank E until the water level in tank Eis common with the water level in pipe 15.

I claim:Y

l. A well system comprising: a hollow Well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe;an enclosure situated partially above Vground level and surrounding theupper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure having anopening in its under side through which the well casing projects, ahollow stub secured to the enclosure and projecting interiorly thereofand in substantial registry with the opening in the under side thereof,said hollow stub having an inside diameter greater than the outsidediameter of the well casing whereby the well casing projects vthroughthe interior of the stub; a water discharge pipe projecting from withinthe enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device inthe well casing and within the enclosure said distributing device |beingsituated above ground level and serving to direct the water from thedelivery pipe to the discharge pipe.

2. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe;an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding theupper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure comprising anupper section and a lower section removably interconnected; the lowersection having an opening in its under side; a hollow stub secured tothe lower section in substantial registry with the opening andprojecting into the interior of the enclosure; a separable section ofwell casing anchored to the hollow stub and situated at the upper end ofthe well casing in substantial longitudinal alignment therewith so as toserve as an extension of the -well casing; a water discharge pipeprojecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a waterdistributing device secured to the upper end of the water delivery pipeand situated within the separable section of well casing, said waterdistributing device being situated above ground level and serving todirect the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe.

3. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a Water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water -up through the deliverypipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surroundingthe upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosurecomprising a lower section and an upper section, removablyinterconnected with the lower section, the lower section having anopening in its under side through which the upper end of the well casingprojects; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure tothe exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing andwithin the enclosure, said distributing device being situated abovegroundV level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe tothe discharge pipe; means connecting the upper section of the enclosureto the distributing device for adjusting the upper section relative tothe lower section.

4. A well system as set Iforth in claim 3 wherein the upper section hasan opening therein and a rod extends through the opening and engages thedistributing device for effecting the movement of -the upper sectionrelative to the lower section.

5. A well system as set forth in claim 4 wherein means are carried onthe well casing for engaging the distributing device to prevent rotationthereof while the rod which engages the distributing device is beingadjusted.

6. A Well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe;an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding theupper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipeprojecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a waterdistributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, saiddistributing device being situated above ground level and serving todirect the water from the delivery pipe `to the discharge pipe; saidenclosure including a lower section and an upper section removablyinterconnected with the lower section, said upper section having anopening therein; a rod projecting through the opening so that one endthereof is adjustably engaged with the distributing device and the otherend extends exteriorly of the enclosure; a rigid washer secured to therod exteriorly of the enclosure and a rigid washer secured to the rodinteriorly of the enclosure, whereby rotation of such rod is effectedwithout incurring axial movement thereof and whereby movement of theupper section toward or away from the lower section is effected.

7. A well system as set forth in claim 6 wherein resilient sealingwashers are mounted on the rod on either side of the wall of the uppersection of the enclosure and so that each is interposed, one, betweenone of the rigid washers and the inner wall surface of the enclosure andthe other between the other rigid washer and the outer wall surface ofthe enclosure.

8. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pu-mping device for pumping water up through the deliverypipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surroundingthe upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipeprojecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a waterdistributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, saiddistributing device being situated above ground level and serving todirect the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe and aheating element su-rrounding the well casing within the enclosure forheating the interior of the enclosure.

9. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe;an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding theupper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipeprojecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a waterdistributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, saiddistributing device being situated above ground level and serving todirect the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe; a waterstorage tank for receiving the water 4from the water discharge pipe anda balancing pipe extending from and establishing communication betweenthe water discharge pipe and the interior of the storage tank forelecting balancing of the water level in the discharge pipe and storagetank after the pump ceases operating.

l0. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down intothe ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the Wellcasing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe;an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding theupper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure having anopening in its underside through which the well casing projects; ahollow stub secured to the enclosure in substantial registry with theopening and projecting into the interior of the enclosure; a separablesection of well casing anchored to the hollow stub and situated at theupper end of the well casing in substantial longitudinal alignmenttherewith so as to serve as an extension of the well casing; a waterdischarge pipe projecting from Within the enclosure to the exteriorthereof; a water distributing device secured to the upper end of theWater delivery pipe and situated within the separable section of wellcasing, said water distributing device 4being situated above groundlevel and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to thedischarge pipe.

ll. A well system as set forth in claim 10- wherein the separablesection of casing is of smaller diameter than the stub whereby the lowerend thereof `'forms an annular shoulder for engaging the upper end ofthe well casing which projects through the stub.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,807,214 Patterson Sept. 24, 1957 2,847,939 Tubbs Aug. 19, 1958

